Two-car crash on Barnes Road leaves three in critical condition

As Martha’s Vineyard residents and visitors celebrated the Fourth of July, the holiday turned tragic for the occupants of two vehicles traveling in opposite directions on Barnes Road.

About 2 pm, Wednesday, a red Jeep Wrangler with New Hampshire plates and a black VW SUV with Mass plates collided just north of the entrance to the Mobil Gas Station at the entrance to the Martha’s Vineyard Airport Business Park.

Island police, fire and rescue personnel rushed to the scene. Just about the time parade goers were making their way to Edgartown, police closed off Barnes Road between the blinker intersection and West Tisbury Road.

Rescue personnel searched nearby woods for one victim who was ejected from the Jeep in the crash, a witness reported. Rescuers needed special equipment to extricate another victim from a vehicle.

Five people, including a child, were injured in the crash. They were transported to Martha’s Vineyard Hospital, some with serious injuries.

A MedFlight transfer was called for to transfer three accident victims in critical condition from Martha’s Vineyard to Boston area hospitals, State Police said.

A State Police accident investigation team arrived on the Island that afternoon.